KARACHI, Feb 18: Ports, terminal operators and shipping lines will be treated as separate entities and may be considered for recognized security organizations (RSOs) being set up to meet International Ships and Ports Security (ISPS) code of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

This transpired in a meeting of stakeholders convened on Wednesday by the director general, Ports and Shipping, Capt Anwar Shah, in his office. However, only those organizations will be accorded RSO status which will be complying with the ISPS Code Pt.(B) para 4.4 and 4.7, and will have the power to act in their jurisdiction only.

The DG Ports and Shipping has, however, laid down some other terms under which terminal operators could only be considered as RSO provided the respective port authority takes the ultimate responsibility for terminals and carry out security audit and follow-up measures to ensure security by the lessee.

In order to meet July 1, 2004 deadline for adopting the ISPS code, the DG Ports and Shipping has also laid down set targets for each step required to achieve the goal.

Capt Anwar informed the participants that due to paucity of time all the prospective applicants who wanted to become eligible RSOs would have to strictly follow tight schedule for fulfilling each step.

While laying down deadlines for each step required to meet RSO conditions, the DG said, that applications should reach his offices up to March 1, 2004. He further said that at the time of application it should be determined that which of the port facilities located within the territory of a contracting government was required to designate as Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) and to prepare for a Port Facility Security Plan (PFSP).

The DG said that director Vigilance Col Javed Akhtar, who would also act as director ISPS, would work as coordinator and would be assisted by chief nautical surveyor, chief engineer and ship surveyor, engineer and ship surveyor, two section officers and two officers from the PQA and the KPT.

He said all stakeholders would have to coordinate with these officers for meeting the deadline for the implementation of the ISPS code. The names of prospective RSOs were also noted down that include PNSC, KPT, KICT, PICT, PQA, PICT, FOTCO and ENGRO, but they will have to fulfil 13 conditions laid down in ISPS code before according the status of RSOs.